Philippians 4:6
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.

1 Peter 5:6-7
6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time; 7 casting all your worries on him, because he cares for you.

Psalm 55:22
Cast your burden on the LORD, and he will sustain you. He will never allow the righteous to be moved.

Proverbs 3:5-6
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will direct your paths.

Psalm 37:5
Commit your way to the LORD. Trust also in him, and he will act.

Psalm 62:5-12
5 My soul, wait only upon God, for my expectation is from him. 6 He alone is my rock and my salvation, my defence. I will not be moved. 7 With God is my salvation and my honor. The rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God. 8 Trust in him at all times, O people. Pour out your heart before him. God is a refuge for us. Selah. 9 Surely men of low degree are vanity, and men of high degree are a lie: to be laid in the balance, they are altogether lighter than vanity. 10 Trust not in oppression, and become not vain in robbery: if riches increase, set not your heart upon them. 11 God has spoken once; twice have I heard this; that power belongs unto God. 12 Also unto you, O Lord, belongs mercy: for you render to every man according to his work.

Matthew 6:24-34
24 “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other; or else he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Mammon. 25 Therefore* I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 See the birds of the sky, that they do not sow, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns, and your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of much more value than they? 27 ”And which of you, by being anxious, can add one cubit to his height? 28 And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow. They do not toil, neither do they spin, 29 yet I tell you that even Solomon in all his glory was not dressed like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today exists, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, won’t he much more clothe you, you of little faith? 31 “Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What will we eat?’, ‘What will we drink?’ or, ‘With what will we be clothed?’ 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But seek first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not be anxious for tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

*Be careful to note the "Therefore" that connects verses 24 and 25. It's a fine line between trusting in the world's Mammon and trusting in God. Further meditation is encouraged.

Luke 12:16-21
16 He spoke a parable to them, saying, “The ground of a certain rich man produced abundantly. 17 He reasoned within himself, saying, ‘What will I do, because I don’t have room to store my crops?’ 18 He said, ‘This is what I will do. I will pull down my barns, and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. 19 I will tell my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years. Take your ease, eat, drink, be merry.”’ 20 “But God said to him, ‘You foolish one, tonight your soul is required of you. The things which you have prepared—whose will they be?’ 21 So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”

Matthew 10:29-31
29 Aren’t two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will. 30 Even all the hairs on your head are numbered. 31 So do not be afraid; you are more valuable than many sparrows.

Romans 10:17
So faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.

Jeremiah 17:5-8
5 Thus says the LORD: “Cursed is the man who trusts in man, and makes flesh his arm, and whose heart departs from the LORD. 6 For he shall be like the heath in the desert, and shall not see when good comes, but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, a salt land and not inhabited. 7 Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, and whose confidence is in the LORD. 8 For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, who spreads out its roots by the river, and shall not fear when heat comes, but its leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.

Psalm 118:8-9
8 It is better to take refuge in the LORD, than to put confidence in man. 9 It is better to take refuge in the LORD, than to put confidence in princes.

Isaiah 31:1-3
1 Woe to those who go down to Egypt* for help, and rely on horses, and trust in chariots because they are many, and in horsemen because they are very strong, but they do not look to the Holy One of Israel, and they do not seek the LORD. 3 Now the Egyptians are men, and not God; and their horses flesh, and not spirit. When the LORD stretches out his hand, both he who helps shall stumble, and he who is helped shall fall, and they all shall be consumed together.

*For those who have been called out of the world (John 15:18-19), Egypt represents the world and its resources and facilitations and enticing quick fixes that come with a catch. Love not the world (1 John 2:15-17). So obey God and turn to Him for all sure things, and submit to his timing.and wait upon Him?

Isaiah 2:22
Stop trusting in man, whose breath is in his nostrils; for of what account is he?

Isaiah 50:7-11
7 For the Lord GOD will help me; therefore I have not been confounded: therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be disappointed. 8 He is near who justifies me; who will bring charges against me? Let us stand up together: who is my adversary? Let him come near to me. 9 Behold, the Lord GOD will help me; who is he who shall condemn me? Behold, all they shall wax old as a garment, the moth shall eat them up. 10 Who is among you who fears the LORD, who listens to the voice of his servant? He who walks in darkness, and has no light, let him trust in the name of the LORD, and rely on his God. 11 Behold, all you who kindle a fire, who adorn yourselves with torches around yourselves; walk in the light of your fire, and among the torches that you have kindled. You shall have this of my hand; you shall lie down in sorrow.

2 Corinthians 1:8-11
8 For we do not desire to have you uninformed, brothers, concerning our affliction which happened in Asia, that we were weighed down exceedingly, beyond our power, so much that we despaired even of life. 9 Yes, we ourselves have had the sentence of death within ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead, 10 who delivered us out of so great a death, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope* that he will also deliver us again; 11 you also helping together on our behalf by your petition; that, for the gift bestowed on us by means of many, thanks may be given by many persons on our behalf.

*Tribulation leads to endurance, which leads to experience, which leads to hope:

Romans 5:3-5
3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation works endurance; 4 And endurance, experience; and experience, hope: 5 And hope makes not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit which is given unto us.

Habakkuk 3:17-19
17 For though the fig tree doesn't flourish, nor fruit be in the vines; the labor of the olive fails, the fields yield no food; the flocks are cut off from the fold, and there is no herd in the stalls: 18 yet I will rejoice in the LORD. I will be joyful in the God of my salvation. 19 The LORD, the Lord, is my strength. He makes my feet like deer's feet, and enables me to go in high places...

Even when circumstances may lead into a direction opposite to an expected end for a time, God is in control and his word remains true. It does not return to Him void. He is not bound by any obligation to only allow things that will satisfy anyone’s understanding or approval. Only stand in faith and choose to obey Him and so honor your Father who undoubtedly loves you and seeks your greatest good.

Isaiah 55:10-11
10 For as the rain comes down and the snow from the sky, and doesn’t return there, but waters the earth, and makes it bring forth and bud, and gives seed to the sower and bread to the eater; 11 so shall my word be that goes forth out of my mouth: it shall not return to me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing I sent it to do.

1 Kings 20:28
And there came a man of God, and spoke unto the king of Israel, and said, Thus says the LORD, Because the Syrians have said, The LORD is God of the hills, but he is not God of the valleys, therefore will I deliver all this great multitude into your hand, and all of you shall know that I am the LORD.

God will prove wrong the unbelievers and those who doubt the measure of his power. How much more will He not show his strength on behalf of those who put their trust in Him and walk in his ways?

2 Chronicles 14:9-12
9 And there came out against them Zerah the Ethiopian with an host of a thousand thousand, and three hundred chariots; and came unto Mareshah. 10 Then Asa went out against him, and they set the battle in array in the valley of Zephathah at Mareshah. 11 And Asa cried unto the LORD his God, and said, LORD, it is nothing with you to help, whether with many, or with them that have no power: help us, O LORD our God; for we rest on you, and in your name we go against this multitude. O LORD, you are our God; let no man prevail against you. 12 So the LORD stroke the Ethiopians before Asa, and before Judah; and the Ethiopians fled.

2 Chronicles 16:7-9
7 At that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah, and said to him, “Because you have relied on the king of Syria, and have not relied on the LORD your God, therefore is the army of the king of Syria escaped out of your hand. 8 Weren’t the Ethiopians and the Lubim a huge army, with chariots and horsemen exceeding many? Yet, because you relied on the LORD, he delivered them into your hand. 9 For the eyes of the LORD run back and forth throughout the whole earth, to show himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. Herein you have done foolishly; for from henceforth you shall have wars.”

John 11:40
Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see God’s glory?”

John 14:1
Do not let your heart be troubled. Believe in God. Believe also in me.

John 14:27
Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

Isaiah 40:29-31
29 He gives power to the faint; and to those who have no might, he increases their strength. 30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: 31 But those who wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

Psalm 138:8
The LORD will fulfill that which concerns me; your loving kindness, LORD, endures forever. Do not forsake the works of your own hands.

John 15:7-11
7 If you remain in me, and my words remain in you, ask
whatever you desire, and it will be done for you. 8 “In this is my
Father glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my
disciples. 9 Even as the Father has loved me, I also have loved you.
Remain in my love. 10 If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my
love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and remain in his
love. 11 I have spoken these things to you, that my joy may be in you,
and that your joy may be made full.

Ephesians 3:20-21
20 Now
to him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or
think, according to the power that works in us, 21 to him be the glory
in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever.
Amen.

Jude 1:24-25
24 Now unto him that is able to keep
you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of
his glory with exceeding joy, 25 To the only wise God our Saviour, be
glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.

Thursday, October 26, 2017

Let's say you wanted to get on your favorite porn website and right then someone held a gun to your head and told you to not get on any porn website, would you struggle to obey that order? That's not likely. You'd probably just find something else to do with your time. That means your mind is working well to make that calculation and the decision to change what you wanted to do. You would not have a certain "sinful nature" that would force that enforcer to kill you because you left him no choice as you **had to** go watch that porn. No, that would not happen. You would not come up with any excuse that he would have to shoot you because you can't help it due to your "sinful nature". It's only the evil desires in your heart and your willingness to satisfy those evil desires that you would need to deny and overcome in order to not get shot. You would make the conscious choice to not die that day for the foolishness of watching a few minutes of porn.

~~~~~
Watch the video for this message on Youtube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XkgWnAby2AE

~~~~~

Then why do you struggle to obey God who also tells you the same thing with no gun pointed to your head?

That tells you whom you fear. Especially, that tells you that you do not fear God. His word is not in you. You may have the words of men presenting a package of bible verses to you that you know well, but God's word is still not in your heart to direct you. It has found no place in you if you have had itching ears and have preferred fables over the truth of God's word (John 8:37; 2 Timothy 4:3-4).

John 8:37
I know that you are Abraham's seed; but you seek to kill me, because my word has no place in you.

2 Timothy 4:3-4
3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

You have been "ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth" (2 Timothy 3:7). You have never heeded this word to prove that you are truly a disciple of Jesus:

John 8:31-32
31 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed on him, If you continue in my word, then you are my disciples indeed; 32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free (from sin).

Just like these people Jesus was speaking to, if his words offend you, maybe you'd have rather gotten Him killed also for telling you the truth that shed light on your sin so you could come out of the darkness to follow Him, the light of the world (John 8:12) and be saved.

John 8:40
But now you seek to kill me, a man that has told you the truth, which I have heard of God: Abraham did not do this.

So you could fear a man and make the right choice and the right behavior would follow, but you do not fear God so much as to have that same result. And neither would the behavior itself save you if your heart is still not right before God... An armed man who is commanding you would only be concerned with your behavior. But God looks at the heart (1 Samuel 16:7). That's why it is written:

"Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded." (James 4:8)

Your evil desire in your heart that draws you to porn watching or any other sin is a bad fruit that comes from a bad tree. Jesus taught that clearly (Matthew 7:15-20; Luke 6:43-45; Mark 7:20-23). And He also said: “Either make the tree good and its fruit will be good, or make the tree bad and its fruit will be bad; for a tree is known by its fruit." (Matthew 12:33) You are not desperately bad. You are called to repentance. That is the good news. You are called to pass from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God (Acts 26:18) when you heed that gospel that was preached on this earth for the salvation of souls. Lies will probably never offend you or bother you in the way you are living but they will also keep you in bondage to your sins and on the broad way to destruction if you don't make a determined effort to enter through the narrow gate and keep yourself walking on the difficult way to eternal life (Matthew 7:13-14; Luke 13:24). That means you won't be saved. It's the truth that sets you free (John 8:31-36). You cannot pursue God and evil desires at the same time, that's being double-minded as James puts it and such a person will not receive anything from the Lord (James 1:7-8), including salvation. A person who wants to serve God must hear the call to repentance and turn away from unrighteousness (2 Timothy 2:19). Whatever man is teaching or whether preachers will be silent about these things because it is supposed that everyone is a poor bad tree (sinner) that must only admit that and keep on being the same while supposing to be covered by the blood of Jesus.

It's clear that your mind that approves of your sin (because you see nothing wrong with it) and your heart that is evil (loving the pleasures of sin more than Jesus) is where your sin problem is, not in a nature that you cannot change. You were NOT born this way (addicted to evil things). But you have indulged your evil desires and your sin has captured and bound you!

Isaiah 5:20
Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!

John 8:34-36
34 Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever commits sin is the servant of sin. 35 And the servant does not abide in the house forever: but the Son abides ever. 36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, you shall be free indeed.

Maybe you never heard this:

Matthew 10:28
And fear not them who kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in Gehenna.

The wages of sin is still death (Romans 6:23 - bad news), but because of God's mercy to save souls (good news), He doesn't strike you dead with lightning the moment you think to touch that keyboard or mouse to feed your pornography addiction. God is being merciful to mankind in this hour.

2 Peter 3:9
The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

Proverbs 16:6
By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of Yahweh men depart from evil.

Proverbs 9:10
The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the holy ones is understanding.

But if you don't believe the bad news that the wages of sin is death, you cannot either appreciate God's mercy and turn to Him to obey Him because you love Him. So then you cannot understand Jesus' sacrifice as a demonstration of God's love indeed (Romans 5:6-8) and purpose to return that John 3:16 love with everything in you! You do that when you are done doing your own will and living for yourself and give your life to God. That's the meaning of losing your life for Jesus' sake and the sake of the gospel (Mark 8:34-35). That's where you repent and stop being a rebel but become obedient to God out of love! Jesus said "IF you love me, keep my commandments" (John 14:15). 'If' implies you have a choice that you can make. But if you will not submit yourself to God in humility, you will not receive his grace that brings salvation either (Titus 2:11-14), giving you victory over sin, for God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble (James 4:6-7).

Ecclesiastes 8:11-13
11 Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil. 12 Though a sinner does evil a hundred times, and his days be prolonged, yet surely I know that it shall be well with them that fear God, who fear before him: 13 But it shall not be well with the wicked, neither shall he prolong his days, which are as a shadow; because he fears not before God.

And what happened to these words of Jesus? Are they instructions to anyone or cancelled by other things believers believe?

Matthew 5:29-30
29 If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and throw it away from you. For it is better that you lose one of the parts of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into Gehenna. 30 And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away from you. For it is better that you lose one of the parts of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into Gehenna.

If you belong to Christ, the Holy Spirit lives in you (Romans 8:9), you are made a partaker of the divine nature (2 Peter 1:4), and are called to offer your body as a living sacrifice to God (Romans 12:1). Your body includes your hands for what you handle and do, your feet for where you take yourself and your eyes likewise. If your eyes belong to God and are full of light (Matthew 6:22) rather than being full of darkness (Matthew 6:23), you don't put anything before your eyes to pollute your soul.

May Jesus bless you!

~~~ ~~~ ~~~

Sin begins first in the heart:

James 1:12-16
12 Blessed is the man that endures temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord has promised to them that love him (John 14:15). 13 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempts he any man: 14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away by his own lust, and enticed. 15 Then when lust has conceived, it brings forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, brings forth death. 16 Do not go astray, my beloved brethren.

2 Corinthians 5:8-11
8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. 9 Therefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him (well pleasing to him). 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to what he has done, whether it be good or bad. 11 Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.

Titus 2:11-14
11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, 12 teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, 13 looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.

2 Timothy 2:24-26
24 And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, able to teach, patient, 25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God possibly will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; 26 And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.
_______

Monday, October 9, 2017

Galatians 5:19-21 19 Now the works of the flesh are evident,
which are: adultery, fornication, [**uncleanness**], lewdness, 20
idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath,
selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, murders, drunkenness,
revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also
told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not
inherit the kingdom of God.
?
Romans 1:24-25 24
Therefore Elohim gave them up to [**uncleanness**] in the lust of their
hearts, to disrespect their bodies among themselves, 25 who changed the
truth of Elohim into the falsehood, and worshipped and served what was
created rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amĕn.
Dishonor/disrespect of the body ←→ Uncleanness
When you understand sin that leads to death, you will understand mercy and righteousness that leads to holiness. When you have a sense of your own uncleanness, you will understand: – sanctification/being set apart by faith/obedience to the Messiah (Acts 16:18) – the holiness of God: "Be holy for I am holy" (1 Peter 1:16) "without holiness no man shall see the Lord (Hebrew 12:14). – the fear of Yahuah, which is wisdom: "the fear of Yahuah, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding." (Job 28:28) "Come, you children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of Yahuah" (Psalm 34:11)
"And if you call on the Father, who without respect of persons judges
according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in
fear" (1 Peter 1:17, right after 1 Peter 1:16... did Peter "get it" or
what?)
Note that righteousness leads to holiness (Romans 6:19).
So no sinner can walk that path. You must be set free from your sins.
You must depart from iniquity (2 Timothy 2:19). Your mind must be
renewed so that you know that you are not a sinner (not merely tagging
the word "saint" upon you). You know what you have been delivered from,
and that is your testimony of salvation bringing you to where you are
today, to endure in the faith until the end (Matthew 10:22; John 15:4-6;
Romans 11:22). If your mind is not renewed (Romans 12:1-2; Ephesians
4:23-24) to the point where you know that you are called righteous, a
saint of the Most High and not a sinner, you need to swallow your pride
and obey the truth: REPENT and BE CONVERTED (Acts 3:19).
(( Romans 6:16-19
16 Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey,
you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to
death, or of obedience leading to righteousness? 17 But God be thanked
that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that
form of doctrine to which you were delivered. 18 And having been set
free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness. 19 I speak in human
terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented
your members as slaves of uncleanness, and of lawlessness leading to
more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves of righteousness
for holiness. ))
Other passages on uncleanness:
Romans 6:19
I speak as a man, because of the weakness of your flesh. For even as
you did present your members as servants of [**uncleanness**], and of
lawlessness resulting in lawlessness, so now present your members as
servants of righteousness resulting in set-apartness (holiness).
weak flesh ←→ uncleanness
(the weakest link ☞ thou doest well to eliminate it: crucify your flesh
as those that are Christ's do - Galatians 5:24-25, through the Spirit -
Romans 8:12-13)
Colossians 3:5-7 5 Therefore put to death
your members which are on the earth: 6 whoring, [**uncleanness**],
passion, evil desire and greed of gain, which is idolatry. 6 Because of
these the wrath of Elohim is coming upon the sons of disobedience, 7 in
which you also once walked when you lived in them.
members ←→ uncleanness
This is not a listing of members but of the fruit of the members, which
are body parts in which no good thing dwells (Romans 7:18). So then
remember Romans 12:1: "present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy,
acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service."
Ephesians 4:17-19
17 So this I say, and witness in the Master, that you should no longer
walk as the gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, 18 having been
darkened in their understanding, having been estranged from the life of
Elohim, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the
hardness of their heart, 19 who, having become callous, have given
themselves up to indecency, to work all [**uncleanness**] with
greediness.
Indecency ←→ uncleanness
Ephesians 5:1-4 1
Become, then, imitators of Elohim as beloved children. 2 And walk in
love, as Messiah also has loved us, and gave Himself for us, a gift and
an offering to Elohim (→→→Romans 12:1←←←) for a sweet-smelling
fragrance. 3 But whoring and all [**uncleanness**], or greed of gain,
let it not even be named among you, as is proper among set-apart ones
(saints) – 4 neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse
jesting, which are not fitting, but rather thanksgiving.
Whoring ←→ uncleanness
e.g. being a whore/whoremonger, fornicator, adulterer (incl. one who
defiles oneself with another's spouse); involvement in prostitution,
pornography, the sins of masturbation that start in the heart (impure
heart/impure thoughts, shameful imaginations - Romans 6:21); the
uncleanness of bodily emissions (cf. Leviticus 15).
1 Thessalonians 4:1-8
1 For the rest then, brothers, we beg you and call upon you in the
Master Yahusha, that as you received from us how you should walk and to
please Elohim, you should excel still more, 2 for you know what commands
we gave you through the Master Yahusha. 3 For this is the desire of
Elohim: your set-apartness (holiness)! – that you should abstain from
whoring, 4 that ***each one of you should know how to possess his own
vessel in set-apartness (holiness) and respect,*** 5 not in passion of
lust, like the gentiles who do not know Elohim, 6 not to overstep and
take advantage of his brother in this matter, because the Master is the
revenger of all such, as we indeed said to you before and earnestly
warned. 7 For Elohim did not call us to [**uncleanness**], but in
set-apartness (holiness). 8 Therefore he who rejects this does not
reject man, but Elohim, who also gives us His Set-apart (Holy) Spirit.
Uncleanness <> (contrasted with) set-apartness (holiness)
2 Corinthians 12:19-21
19 Again, think you that we excuse ourselves unto you? we speak before
God in Christ: but we do all things, dearly beloved, for your edifying.
20 For I fear, lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I would,
and that I shall be found unto you such as you would not: lest there be
debates, envyings, wraths, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, swellings,
tumults: 21 And lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among
you, and that I shall bewail many which have sinned already, and have
not repented of the [**uncleanness**] and fornication and lasciviousness
which they have committed.
Lasciviousness ←→ Uncleanness ←→ fornication (whoring) (found together)
Galatians 5:19-21
19 And the works of the flesh are well-known, which are these:
adultery, whoring, [**uncleanness**], indecency, 20 idolatry, drug
sorcery, hatred, quarrels, jealousies, fits of rage, selfish ambitions,
dissensions, factions, 21 envy, murders, drunkenness, wild parties, and
the like – of which I forewarn you, even as I also said before, that
those who practice such as these shall not inherit the reign of Elohim.
Romans 12:1-2
1 I call upon you, therefore, brothers, through the compassion of
Elohim, to present your bodies a living offering – set-apart (holy),
well-pleasing to Elohim – your reasonable worship. 2 And do not be
conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your
mind, so that you prove what is that good and well-pleasing and perfect
desire of Elohim.
1 Corinthians 3:17-18 Do you not know that
you are a Dwelling Place (temple) of Elohim and that the Spirit of
Elohim dwells in you? If anyone destroys* (KJV: defile) the Dwelling
Place of Elohim, Elohim shall destroy him. For the Dwelling Place of
Elohim is set-apart (holy), which you are.
*The weaker word 'defile' found in the KJV is translated from the same word that means to 'destroy'.
_________________
What is a vessel? (a quick look)
"each one of you should know how to possess his own **vessel in set-apartness (holiness) and respect" (1 Thessalonians 4:4)
"In the same way, husbands, live understandingly together, giving
respect to the wife, as to the weaker **vessel, and as being heirs
together of the favour of life, so that your prayers are not hindered."
(1 Peter 3:17)
Vessels were found notably in the holy place
(tabernacle/temple). The priest/high priest dealt with various kinds of
vessels in their service. They seem to be mere "utensils" that serve a
purpose at the hands of the one who uses them. It's the same word being
applied to a person in the new testament. If you have/are a vessel
yourself, being a member of the body of Messiah, which is the temple of
Elohim, that's a good reason to remain humble and in fear. What are you?
Be what you are called to be in order to be useful to the Master.
2 Timothy 2:19-22
19 However, the solid foundation of Elohim stands firm, having this
seal, “Yahuah knows those who are His,” and, “Let everyone who names the
Name of Messiah turn away from unrighteousness.” 20 But in a large
house there are not only VESSELS of gold and silver, but also of wood
and clay, some unto value and some unto no value. 21 If, then, anyone
CLEANSES* HIMSELF from these matters, he shall be a VESSEL UNTO VALUE,
HAVING BEEN SET APART (SANCTIFIED/MADE HOLY), OF GOOD USE TO THE MASTER,
HAVING BEEN PREPARED FOR EVERY GOOD WORK. 22 And FLEE FROM THE LUSTS OF
YOUTH, but PURSUE RIGHTEOUSNESS, BELIEF, LOVE, PEACE with those calling
on the Master out of a CLEAN HEART.
_________________
What is defilement?
I argue that defilement can only be understood from a perspective of un-defilement, that is, cleanness.
2 Corinthians 6:17 Therefore, “Come out from among them and be separate, says Yahuah, and do not touch what is [**unclean**] (https://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm…), and I shall receive you.
1 Corinthians 7:13-14
13 And a woman who has an unbelieving husband, and he thinks well to
live with her, let her not send him away. 14 For the unbelieving husband
has been set-apart in the wife, and the unbelieving wife has been
set-apart in the husband. Otherwise your children would be
[**unclean**], but now they are set-apart (holy).
That is a great mystery...
Ephesians 5:25-27
25 Husbands, love your wives, as Messiah also did love the assembly
(the church) and gave Himself for it, 26 in order to SET IT APART
(sanctify it/make it holy) and CLEANSE IT (https://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/Lexicon/Lexicon.cfm…)
with the WASHING OF WATER BY THE WORD, 27 in order to present it to
Himself a splendid assembly, NOT HAVING SPOT OR WRINKLE or any of this
sort, but that it might be SET-APART (holy) and BLAMELESS.
John 15:3 You are already CLEAN (https://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/Lexicon/Lexicon.cfm…) because of the Word which I have spoken to you.
Our heart/thoughts must be guarded clean/pure, or we open the door to uncleanness in them...
Philippians 4:8 For the rest, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is righteous, whatever is CLEAN (https://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm…), whatever is lovely, whatever is of good report, if there is any uprightness and if there is any praise – think on these.
Guarding our heart/thoughts implies controlling also what we let in
through our senses (e.g. our eyes, ears...). And that, my friends, is
very tricky. What I am seeing here is another level of tricky, along
with a better appreciation of the call to holiness. It is prudent then
to confess sins that we may not know of, like David thought to do in his
wisdom (Psalm 19:12-13). The aim is to be cleared of all pollution that
we may have allowed in ignorance (lack of knowledge destroys God's
people - Hosea 4:6), or that we have inadvertently entertained, or that
we have suffered by merely being exposed to uncleanness in our
environment. That is the takeaway for me. My mind has been renewed on
this matter and transformation is effective immediately. May God help us
all.
Psalm 19:12-13 12 Who discerns (his) mistakes? Declare
me innocent from those that are secret, 13 Also keep Your servant back
from presumptuous ones, Do not let them rule over me. Then shall I be
perfect, and innocent of great transgression.
James 1:27
Clean and undefiled religion before the Elohim and Father is this: to
visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself
unstained (unspotted: https://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/Lexicon/Lexicon.cfm…) from the world.
☞ Therefore pursue holiness (Hebrews 12:14). Be transformed by the
renewing of your mind (Romans 12:2), and strive to be holier than thou
old self.

But evil men and impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.

Sir,
you are very dangerous to the body of Christ and to anyone who is not
saved, even to yourself. You are clearly identified in Matthew 23:13.

When you take Romans 4:5 out of its context where works means works of the law. you become a deceiver deceiving others.

Romans 4:5

But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.

...

9
Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the
uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for
righteousness. 10 How was it then reckoned? when he was in circumcision,
or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision.

...

13 For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.

What
is that righteousness of faith? A righteousness that comes through
doing nothing but believing? No. Understand what James means by "For as
the body without the spirit is dead, so faith (belief) without works is
dead also." (James 2:26)

1 John 3:7My little children, let no man lead you astray: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous

doeth implies an activity.

Have you ever read John 3:19-21?

19
And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and
men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20
For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the
light, lest his deeds should be reproved. 21 But he that doeth truthcometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.

doeth truth : cease to hate the light and do evil (you call that works that someone should not do)

cometh to the light : cease to love the darkness (you call that works that someone should not do)

It's unfortunate that you cannot look at the scriptures. You have missed what the bible is saying.Acts 20:20-21You
know... 20 ... how I kept back nothing that was profitable to you, but
have showed you, and have taught you publicly, and from house to house,
21 Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance
toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. (2 things.)Acts 26:19-2019
“Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly
vision, 20 but declared first to those in Damascus and in Jerusalem,
and throughout all the region of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that
they should repent, turn to God, and do works consistent with
repentance.Let's go to John the Baptist to understand what it means to do works consistent with repentance (not the works of the law (Galatians 2:16)):Luke 3:7-147
Then he said to the multitudes that came out to be baptized by him,
“Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8
Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, and do not begin to say to
yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I say to you that God
is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones. 9 And even
now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which
does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.” 10 So
the people asked him, saying, “What shall we do then?” 11 He answered
and said to them, “He who has two tunics, let him give to him who has
none; and he who has food, let him do likewise.” 12 Then tax collectors
also came to be baptized, and said to him, “Teacher, what shall we do?”
13 And he said to them, “Collect no more than what is appointed for
you.” 14 Likewise the soldiers asked him, saying, “And what shall we
do?” So he said to them, “Do violence to no one nor accuse falsely, and
be content with your wages.”Does
that sound like people needed to learn what to do to love God and love
their neighbor as themselves? (Mark 12:30-31)? Their repentance had to
deal with that precisely. So belief in Jesus has all to do with obeying
his commandments if you loved Him. John 14:15If you love me, keep my commandments. One of those commandments is to repent:Matthew 4:17From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”Luke 13:3... "unless you repent you will all likewise perish."No
one can love Jesus or suppose to "believe" in Him and not turn away
from unrighteousness, all the wickedness that is in that SELF that needs
to die. Luke 9:23Then
He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny
himSELF, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.

Do
all that you think "believe" do that? Do you call denying oneself,
taking up one's cross daily and following Jesus (obeying his
instructions) "works"?

No one can be called Jesus' disciple without remaining in his word:John 8:31-3231
Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you remain in My
word, you are My disciples indeed. 32 And you shall know the truth, and
the truth shall make you free.”The context is clear that this freedom He is speaking of is freedom from sin (read John 8:31-36; Romans 6:16-19). And
what does this remaining in his word mean if not to obey Him (follow
his instructions to be called his disciple, by virtue of which He also
can be rightly called Lord)? Luke 6:46-4946
“But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I
say? 47 Whoever comes to Me, and hears My sayings and does them, I will
show you whom he is like: 48 He is like a man building a house, who
dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when the flood arose,
the stream beat vehemently against that house, and could not shake it,
for it was founded on the rock. 49 But he who heard and did nothing is
like a man who built a house on the earth without a foundation, against
which the stream beat vehemently; and immediately it fell. And the ruin
of that house was great.”If
one reads the scriptures with a heart that is ready to obey God, he
will see that the sinner's rebellion must cease and that happens in
repentance. Romans 5:8-98
But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were
still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, having now been
justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. One
can read Romans 5 and jump to the being justified part and if he does
not want to see that to be justified there must be contrition and
humility and the fear of God along with the faith that will allow
forgiveness to be granted, then he will just not see it, sadly. Romans
was written to people who understood repentance. But sinners, people who
need to hear the gospel and be saved, need to hear about repentance. Let's see that tax collector who was justified ("imputed righteous" or made right with God):Luke 18:13-1413
And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise
his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me
a sinner!’ 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified
rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled,
and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”That
may be what you call the sinners' prayer but most people who say that
sinners' prayer will just repeat words while their hearts are not ready
to obey God, because the message they have heard is given to them with
human wisdom, not by the power of the Holy Spirit. So you bet, nothing
happens. No forgiveness of sins, no salvation, no Holy Spirit comes, and
there is no newness of life to speak of (Romans 6:3-4; 2 Corinthians
5:17) – but maybe a new lifestyle that revolves around church attendance
begins. And people who don't want the truth of God's word will be happy
to surround themselves with teachers that will tell them what they want
to hear (2 Timothy 4:3-4). Then when there is sin in the house, people
raise apostle Paul as a model and remain stuck indefinitely identifying
with his pre-conversion struggles recounted in Romans 7, the page is
never turned, and they never make it to the "therefore" that is in
Romans 8:1. You are part of that system. I beseech you to come out of
it!But
that tax collector understood that He could not "call upon the Lord to
be saved" while holding on to his life of sin as he had abused his power
as a tax collector. He had to CONFESS and FORSAKE his sins, no longer
wanting to go on living that life he had been living, if He really
wanted to be called a servant of God from that point on. And only that
attitude would correspond to today's "giving of one's life to Jesus"
(truly) (cf. Mark 8:35). He would have chosen to live for God, no longer
for himself and to satisfy his greed at the expense of other people!
That man repented. Proverbs 28:13He who covers his sins will not prosper, But whoever CONFESSES AND FORSAKES them will have mercy.Coming
to God is passing from darkness to light. That requires identifying
evil in one's own life when the light of God's word is made to shine on
it (James 1:21-25), and choosing to turn away from it. Jesus is the
light of the world (John 8:12). He came to allow all who live in
darkness to see Him and come to Him and pass from darkness to light,
from death to life, from the power of Satan to God (1 John 2:8; 1 Peter
2:9; John 5:24; 1 John 3:14; Acts 26:18). The power of Satan is
exercised on people through sin/unrighteousness (John 8:44; 2 Timothy
2:26).2 Timothy 2:19Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: “The Lord knowsthose who are His,” and, “LET EVERYONE WHO NAMES THE NAME OF THE LORD DEPART FROM UNRIGHTEOUSNESS.”Romans 10:13For whosoever shall CALL UPON THE NAME OF THE LORD* shall be saved. *Implies DEPARTING FROM UNRIGHTEOUSNESSLet's see repentance that way:Isaiah 55:6-76 Seek the Lord while He may be found,CALL UPON HIM while He is near.7 LET THE WICKED (SINNER) FORSAKE HIS WAY,And the unrighteous man his thoughts;Let him return to the Lord,**And He will have mercy on him;And to our God,For He will abundantly pardon.**That
is the "repenting / turning to God" in Acts 26:20. It works alongside
faith in Jesus' blood for the forgiveness of past sins, because He is
the only sacrifice for sins. Repentance and faith are two sides of the
same coin. If
there is truth you don't want to see, God will send you a strong
delusion (He may have already but if you acknowledge the truth that can
save you, you can repent and that is the Good News to you): 2 Thessalonians 2:9-129
The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan,
with all power, signs, and lying wonders, 10 and with all unrighteous
deception among THOSE WHO PERISH, BECAUSE THEY DID NOT RECEIVE THE LOVE
OF THE TRUTH, THAT THEY MIGHT BE SAVED. 11 And for this reason God will
send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, 12 that
they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but HAD PLEASURE
IN UNRIGHTEOUSNESS.******When
what it means to repent is twisted or suppressed (Romans 1:18), the
taking pleasure in unrighteousness that is then inevitable kindles the
wrath of God. You do have to throw away or twist a lot of scriptures to
hold your position. John 3:16, 3616
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that
whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 36
He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not
OBEY (please see that word in a concordance) the Son shall not see life,
but the wrath of God remains on him.

If
your theology has nothing to say about departing from unrighteousness,
you may have an invented (distorted) "imputed righteousness" concept
that prevents you from seeing what the Lord commands, do it and receive
his grace. Then the best you will do until you forsake the
unrighteousness of believing and teaching that myth is to have
double-talk around the true message of the Gospel. I believe James ran into some people who believe and teach what you do so he had to write this:James 2:19-2019
You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons
believe—and tremble! 20 But do you want to know, O foolish man, that
faith without works is dead? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by
works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? 22 Do you see that
faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made
perfect? 23 And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham
believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was
called the friend of God. 24 You see then that a man is justified by
works, and not by faith only.This
is talking about being "justified" or "accounted righteous" so what
Abraham did was that he obeyed God because that is what a man who has
faith does. And that is what many don't want to hear. Such lead people
to be "disobedient believers" (an oxymoron) and remain so all the way to
hell. They come to Jesus as sinners, they continue to sin and plan on
dying in their sins as "children of disobedience" (John 8:24; Ephesians
2:2).The
coming from disobedience (sin/unrighteousness) to obedience
(righteousness), from rebellion to submission to God, from being an
enemy of God (Romans 5:8) to becoming his friend (John 15:14) happens in
the humility of repentance! Repentance
brings reconciliation with God (Romans 5:10; 2 Corinthians 5:20). But
people want to put their "trust" in having been reconciled to God 2000
years ago and do nothing for fear of it being called "works" even if
Jesus said to do it? We don't even deal with our fellow humans that way
when it comes to relationships. Suppose a husband had been unfaithful to
his wife. Then he just tries to put his trust in her forgiveness and
keeps on going in the same direction: he never has that "talk" with her
where he pour outs his heart to her, showing his remorse over his
foolishness, and asks for her forgiveness and commits to do well from
that point forward... Can we speak of a restored marriage? Maybe that
husband if he is still foolish, but maybe not that wife. The gospel is
about reconciling man to God and He has made the way for it (his way -
obedience to Jesus). And for sure Satan has come against it with the
lies about the requirement of repentance. No
one gets convicted of sin with the just believe in Jesus gospel
(twisting what it means to believe). What the people who heard Peter
felt in Acts 2:37 is not replicated in churches promoting the message
you promote because it is not the Holy Spirit speaking, so conviction of
sin, righteousness and judgement (John 16:8) is not happening in those
places. But that is what leads people to repentance.John 15:14You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. Do
you suppose that among all those you have aimed to lead to believe in
Jesus and be saved none had ever needed to be humbled and to give up
their pride for instance?(James 4:6... God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.)If
repentance was not hidden from them, that issue of pride would not be
there to prevent the grace of God from reaching them. But here their
blood is on the hands of people like these that Jesus spoke to:Matthew 23:1313
“But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut up the
kingdom of heaven against men; for you neither go in yourselves, nor do
you allow those who are entering to go in.They are the great theologians/bible scholars of today. But the true gospel spoken by the power of the Holy Spirit leads people to repentance:Acts 2:37-38, 41 37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brothers, what shall we do? 38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. ... 41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.If
you know all these things but you don't want to preach the message of
Jesus as it is, you cannot be called a servant of God (Galatians 1:10).Here a minister of UNrighteousness will have nothing to do with biblical repentance:2 Corinthians 11:13-1413
For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves
into apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms
himself into an angel of light. 15 Therefore it is no great thing if
his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness,
whose end will be according to their works.And you can see why we cannot have fellowship with each other:1 John 1:5-75
This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you,
that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we
have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not
practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the
light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus
Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin._______2 Timothy 2:24-2624
And a servant of the Lord must not be quarrelsome, but he must be kind
to everyone, able to teach, and forbearing. 25 He must gently reprove
those who oppose him, in the hope that God may grant them repentance
leading to acknowledging the truth. 26 Then they will come to their
senses and escape the snare of the devil, who has taken them captive to
his will. Luke 13:23-2423
Then one said to Him, “Lord, are there few who are saved?” And He said
to them, 24 “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say
to you, will seek to enter and will not be able. 1 Peter 4:17-1917
For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if
it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey
the gospel of God? 18 Now “If the righteous one is scarcely saved,
Where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?” 19 Therefore let those
who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in
doing good, as to a faithful Creator.

_________

Giscard Nazon

A disciple and servant of Jesus Christ

_____________________________________________

See also:
REPENTANCE UNTO LIFE
Easy Believism Refutedhttp://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=919171256240
Refuting the false gospels of Jack Hyles, Carl Hatch, Steven Anderson,
and all others who promote a counterfeit salvation without true
repentance, this message provides proof from the scriptures that
repentance from SIN (as opposed to repentance from mere unbelief) is an
essential element of saving faith - and is thus a precondition to
salvation.